Challengers raised significantly more money than their incumbent opponents last month in several key state Senate races in Northern Virginia, according to reports filed with the state’s elections department.
The totals bolster the hopes of those seeking to oust incumbents in races Democrats have targeted with the goal of seizing control of the Senate.
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“This suggests there is a discontent with the current leadership,” said Sean O’Brien, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in Charlottesville. “This year it is mainly Democratic challengers doing well against Republican incumbents.”
With fewer than three weeks to go before voters decide the races Nov. 6, O’Brien said a fundraising advantage lets candidates launch vital last-minute appeals to constituents.
“This is when you’re sending out the last mailers and running the last television commercials,” O’Brien said. “Candidates might even design print and mail something in the final week.”
Regionally, the gap between candidates was widest in the 34th Senate district, which stretches from Vienna to Fairfax City. Democrat Chap Petersen raised $302,000, almost $200,000 more than incumbent Jeannemarie Devolites Davis. Thanks to strong fundraising earlier in the campaign, Davis still has $386,000 in the bank, which is $75,000 more than Petersen.
In the 39th Senate district, which includes parts of Prince William and Fairfax counties, Democrat George Barker raised $322,000 last month, compared to $203,000 for Republican incumbent Jay O’Brien. Barker entered the campaign’s final three weeks with $172,000 in the bank, about double what O’Brien had.
“It means we do have the opportunity to do the types of things we need to reach out to voters,” Barker said.
O’Brien said his opponent’s advantage was not a surprise and pointed out that $100,000 of Barker’s contributions came from Gov. Tim Kaine and former Gov. Mark Warner. O’Brien said his low bank account will prevent him from running television ads this month
unless he sees a surge in donations.
“I will be focusing on direct mail, which is a more effective way of reach voters,” O’Brien said.
